Home / Bargaining / Settlements

Mar 19, 2010 07:52 PM

Hospital and long-term care workers have voted 77 per cent in favour of a new two-year collective agreement with B.C.’s health employers.
The agreement protects wages and extended health benefits. It also expands options for workers affected by restructuring and privatization through expanded seniority rights, improved severance provisions, and additional re-training funds

In addition, the agreement provides special wage adjustments for targeted job categories where educational requirements and responsibilities have increased, and where there are recruitment and retention issues.

The agreement covers 48,000 workers and was reached between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of BC on February 6. Ratification votes were held across the province over the past three weeks.

FBA spokesperson Judy Darcy says the agreement will provide members with concrete measures to ensure greater certainty and stability in a health care system that continues to be buffeted by cuts and restructuring.

“Patients and long-term care residents will also benefit because the provisions we’ve negotiated will help retain workers affected by contracting out and restructuring,” adds Darcy, who is also secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees’ Union.

“Despite government’s restrictive bargaining framework, we made progress on our members’ key bargaining priorities,” says Darcy. “And we did so while protecting wages and ensuring that extended health plan benefits remain intact and sustainable for members and their families.”

The agreement covers about 270 different jobs in every area of health care including nursing, health records, information technology, logistics and supply, diagnostic testing, pharmacy, trades and maintenance, dietary, housekeeping, payroll, and more.

There are 11 member unions in the Facilities Bargaining Association, including the Hospital Employees’ Union, which represents more than 90 per cent of the workers covered by the agreement.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers also represent a significant number of workers in the sector.

The new agreement expires March 31, 2012.

Home / Bargaining / Settlements

Mar 19, 2010 07:52 PM

Hospital and long-term care workers have voted 77 per cent in favour of a new two-year collective agreement with B.C.’s health employers.
The agreement protects wages and extended health benefits. It also expands options for workers affected by restructuring and privatization through expanded seniority rights, improved severance provisions, and additional re-training funds

In addition, the agreement provides special wage adjustments for targeted job categories where educational requirements and responsibilities have increased, and where there are recruitment and retention issues.

The agreement covers 48,000 workers and was reached between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of BC on February 6. Ratification votes were held across the province over the past three weeks.

FBA spokesperson Judy Darcy says the agreement will provide members with concrete measures to ensure greater certainty and stability in a health care system that continues to be buffeted by cuts and restructuring.

“Patients and long-term care residents will also benefit because the provisions we’ve negotiated will help retain workers affected by contracting out and restructuring,” adds Darcy, who is also secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees’ Union.

“Despite government’s restrictive bargaining framework, we made progress on our members’ key bargaining priorities,” says Darcy. “And we did so while protecting wages and ensuring that extended health plan benefits remain intact and sustainable for members and their families.”

The agreement covers about 270 different jobs in every area of health care including nursing, health records, information technology, logistics and supply, diagnostic testing, pharmacy, trades and maintenance, dietary, housekeeping, payroll, and more.

There are 11 member unions in the Facilities Bargaining Association, including the Hospital Employees’ Union, which represents more than 90 per cent of the workers covered by the agreement.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers also represent a significant number of workers in the sector.

The new agreement expires March 31, 2012.

Home / Racism / Anti-racism

Mar 19, 2010 05:42 PM

BURNABY—This Sunday (March 21) is the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, an occasion for people around the world to focus their attention on racism and to help promote racial harmony.

This year’s Anti-Racism Day marks the 50th anniversary of the date it was chosen to commemorate: the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, when police opened fire on hundreds of South Africans protesting against Apartheid’s passbook laws, killing 67 and wounding 186.

“CUPE BC encourages its members to commemorate this day with their families, friends, and co-workers in whatever manner they see fit,” says CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill. “The fight against racism never ends, but through our collective efforts to promote multicultural diversity we can make a difference and help make the world a better place.”

Anti-racism events are being held throughout the week in conjunction with Anti-Racism Day. On Wednesday (March 24), the University of British Columbia is holding an event at its Vancouver campus at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.
 
The event, which starts at noon, opens with a reading and talk, “Poetry Against Racism,” by distinguished poet and editor Roy Miki. UBC students will then participate in a poetry slam contest, “Racism Experienced or Witnessed,” followed by a performance by Lynn Manning of his autobiographical play, “Weights”. For more details, visit our events page.

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Home / Privatization

Mar 19, 2010 02:42 PM

VICTORIA – A new report by B.C.’s most respected forensic accountant, Ron Parks, finds in favour of public operation of sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District (CRD).

Parks’ review of the business case in support of provincial funding for sewage treatment finds that the assumed cost of public operation is inflated in a number of ways, including double-counting risk, unjustified assumption of higher public costs, and using a discount rate that is too high.

The business case uses an assumed discount rate of 7.5 per cent, while Parks suggests a more appropriate rate would be 5.19 per cent – linked to the current cost of public borrowing through the Municipal Finance Authority. Using the lower rate, public operation is actually $116 million cheaper than a full public private partnership (P3) and $58 million cheaper than the mixed public/P3 (hybrid) option.

Parks says that unsubstantiated estimates of higher construction and operating costs for models that include public operation seem to be based on “the general assumption that the private sector can always do things for less than government can.”

This gives elected directors in the CRD a powerful reason to listen to residents who have repeatedly said they want public, not private, sewage treatment according to Barry O’Neill, president of the B.C. division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “P3s are a rip-off. I am pretty sure that CRD taxpayers would rather see the tens of millions go to improve parks, recreation, transit and roads, than to pay for what amounts to “privatization premiums,” says O’Neill.

The Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee is scheduled to make a recommendation on project procurement to the CRD board on March 24. The CRD board is scheduled to make a final decision on how the project will be procured at its March 31 meeting.
 
Ron Parks was asked by the Canadian Union of Public Employees to address ten questions about the business case. He is with the firm Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc.

See the full report http://www.cupe.bc.ca/campaigns/water-watch/reports-research      

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For more information: Roseanne Moran, CUPE Communications:  778.835.7537

Home / Privatization

Mar 18, 2010 07:07 PM

Sunday, March 21, 2-4pm
Grandview Park, Commercial at Charles
Vancouver

VANCOUVER —Join the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Council of Canadians in a Toast to Public Water leading up to World Water Day on March 22. This free, outdoor all-ages event will take place in East Vancouver’s Grandview Park at Commercial and Charles. On tap will be live music by local folk/roots favourites Headwater. We will also present the First Annual Tappie Awards – a tribute to community members and groups who have worked extra hard to promote and protect B.C.’s public water system. 

The United Nations’ focus for World Water Day this year is on clean water for a healthy world. Across British Columbia water systems are under threat from private drinking and sewage treatment corporations, environmental pollution and bottled water companies who want to sell our resources back to us at many times the cost of public tap water.

“In keeping with the UN theme, our focus is on protecting public water systems and community water resources. CUPE BC is committed to defending the right of every community in B.C. to access to clean, safe, affordable public water,” says CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill. 

 “All year groups across British Columbia struggle to protect our water systems and keep them in public hands,” says Council of Canadians Vancouver president Penny Tilby. “The Tappie Awards are a fun way to thank them for their hard work and encourage others to join in the effort to keep water public for everyone.”

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Contact:  Murray Bush, CUPE National Communications Representative: 778.554.2234

Home / Bargaining

Mar 18, 2010 05:04 PM

OTTAWA, Ont. – BFI Canada Inc. workers, members of Local 1338-02 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are ready to go on strike if the company doesn’t show more openness to their contract demands. The workers are responsible for recycling and waste collection in the west end of Ottawa.

The forty workers, who collect residential and commercial garbage and recycling for approximately 25 per cent of Ottawa, have voted over 90 per cent in favour of strike action if a fair collective agreement is not reached with the employer. The strike vote took place Wednesday evening.

The union has been frustrated with the employer’s refusal to bargain fairly. The bargaining has stumbled on wages, hours of work and overtime, and has come to a complete halt over benefits such as healthcare insurance, long term disability, etc.

Garbage collection is as one of the most hazardous jobs. BFI workers handle an average of 15 tons of garbage per day, roughly 600-900 bags per man every day. Injury rates average 35 per cent every year. The union is seeking the same kind of agreement that other workers in this industry have in Ottawa.

“Our members are determined to be treated fairly and are united. Our goal is to get a fair contract similar to what other workers in the industry have already received,” said Daniel Sauvé, president of CUPE 1338-02.

CUPE is Canada’s largest union, representing over 600,000 members in different sectors, including universities, schools, hospitals, municipalities, social services, transportation and other sectors.

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For more information, please contact:

Daniel Sauvé, Local 1338-02 President:  613-295-4230
Andy Mele, CUPE National Representative:  613-816-2125   
Ronald Boisrond, CUPE Communications:  416-292-3999

Home / Social services

Mar 18, 2010 11:15 AM

WHITBY-OSHAWA, Ont. – Today, front line Children’s Aid workers will ask local MPP Christine Elliott to come to the aid of vulnerable children and families by pressing the government to fix a faulty funding formula that has kept Children Aid Societies in a funding crisis for years.

“In 2006, the government legislated CAS’s to do much more to improve safety and better outcomes for children and families, but has not kept up its side of the equation with adequate funding,” says Gigi Goary, CUPE Local 3223 President representing front line workers at the Durham Children’s Aid Society. “We’re calling on our MPP to step up and advocate for long-term provincial funding in the coming provincial budget to sustain child welfare programs in our community,”

Since October 2009, CAS’s across Ontario have operated under a collective budget deficit of approximately $67 million at 37 agencies. One month ago, Children and Youth minister Laurel Broten announced $22.5 million in ‘mitigation’ funding for 26 agencies. This funding provides only a stop-gap and leaves agencies considering program closures in order to address ongoing and compounding funding shortfalls. CAS agencies need stable long term funding to be able to protect children.

Provincial child welfare workers believe provincial legislation changes to improve child safety and care are positive and have resulted in CAS’s being better able to protect and support vulnerable children.  While agencies and workers have strived to better support children and their families the provincial government fails to fund at a level to support their own initiatives and legislation.
CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn says. “There is no excuse for the government to cut the very supports that allow at-risk children to flourish. Overall provincial child welfare (2008/09) spending only represented 1.2% of the Ontario government’s (2008/09) program spending.”

“Investing in social services like the CAS not only meets community and social needs, it delivers strong economic stimulus – it is both a deficit and poverty fighting measure,” says Hahn.  “These investments are a critical underpinning for Ontario’s economic recovery. Doing what’s right for children is what the priority must be.” 

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For more information, contact:

Gigi Goary, President, CUPE 3223, 905-718-1553
Fred Hahn, President, CUPE Ontario, 416-540-3979
Ronald Boisrond, CUPE Communications, 514-802-2802

Home / Social services

Mar 18, 2010 11:11 AM

HURON-BRUCE, Ont. – Today, front line Children’s Aid workers will ask local MPP Carol Mitchell to come to the aid of vulnerable children and families by pressing the government to fix a faulty funding formula that has kept Children Aid Societies in a funding crisis for years.

“In 2006, the government legislated CAS’s to do much more to improve safety and better outcomes for children and families, but has not kept up its side of the equation with adequate funding,” says Ryan Thompson, a child protection worker representing front line workers in Huron-Bruce. “We’re calling on our MPP to step up and advocate for long-term provincial funding in the coming provincial budget to sustain child welfare programs in our community,”

Since October 2009, CAS’s across Ontario have operated under a collective budget deficit of approximately $67 million at 37 agencies. One month ago, Children and Youth minister Laurel Broten announced $22.5 million in ‘mitigation’ funding for 26 agencies. This funding provides only a stop-gap and leaves agencies considering program closures in order to address ongoing and compounding funding shortfalls. CAS agencies need stable long term funding to be able to protect children.

Provincial child welfare workers believe provincial legislation changes to improve child safety and care are positive and have resulted in CAS’s being better able to protect and support vulnerable children.  While agencies and workers have strived to better support children and their families the provincial government fails to fund at a level to support their own initiatives and legislation.
CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn says. “There is no excuse for the government to cut the very supports that allow at-risk children to flourish. Overall provincial child welfare (2008/09) spending only represented 1.2% of the Ontario government’s (2008/09) program spending.”

“Investing in social services like the CAS not only meets community and social needs, it delivers strong economic stimulus – it is both a deficit and poverty fighting measure,” says Hahn.  “These investments are a critical underpinning for Ontario’s economic recovery. Doing what’s right for children is what the priority must be.” 

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For more information, contact:

Ryan Thompson, Member, CUPE Local 2194, 519-270-7732                                                            
Fred Hahn, President, CUPE Ontario, 416-540-3979
Ronald Boisrond, CUPE Communications, 514-802-2802

Home / Human rights

Mar 17, 2010 09:36 AM

OTTAWA – Canadians who were part of an international election monitoring mission to Colombia say systematic human rights abuses, corruption and escalating violence casts doubts on whether the country’s May presidential vote will be free and fair.

“We’ve just provided Prime Minister Harper with a copy of our findings which underline the need for an independent human rights assessment before Canada moves forward with the controversial Colombia free trade deal,” says Carleen Pickard of the Council of Canadians.

Pickard was one of four Canadians who spent 11 days monitoring conditions on the ground in Colombia last month ahead of March 14 congressional elections where there were numerous complaints about vote-buying and voter intimidation by right-wing paramilitary groups.

“Our first-hand experience contradicts claims the free trade deal will strengthen Colombia’s democracy,” says Pickard. “We found widespread evidence of human rights violations, corruption, resurgent paramilitary groups, and drug violence.”

“There’s a climate of fear among the population,” adds Pickard, “which makes basic democratic principles that Canadians take for granted – like open debate, freedom of political association and participation in the election process – extremely dangerous for Colombians to pursue.”

Another Canadian on the mission travelled to an area in Colombia where there were 569 selective assassinations in 2009 – the highest number ever recorded. “The victims were primarily local politicians and community, indigenous, and union leaders,” says Barbara Wood, a representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

“A wide range of people told us the assassinations were carried out by paramilitaries, despite claims from Colombia’s government that paramilitary forces have been demobilized,” says Wood.

Wood says her group’s findings show the free trade deal being pursued by Ottawa is not the way for Canada to be supporting democracy in Colombia. “Instead, Canadian politicians should be carrying out an independent human rights assessment and demanding fundamental reforms in that country before moving forward with the trade deal.”

The monitoring mission was organized in conjunction with Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE), a Colombian organization, and included 22 observers from the U.S., European Union, Mexico, Panama, and Australia. Other Canadian representatives were Ricardo Miranda, also from CUPE, and Tim Bood, an emergency room physician from Halifax.

A copy of the Colombia election monitoring mission report is available upon request.

For more information, please contact:
Council of Canadians, Carleen Pickard, 613-301-8346
CUPE, Barbara Wood, 604-842-2747

Home / Privatization

Mar 16, 2010 04:14 PM

VICTORIA—At meetings on February 25 and March 10, the house was full as Capital Regional District residents shared their views on sewage treatment procurement. Members of the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee heard passionate and reasoned arguments about why privatization is wrong for Greater Victoria’s new sewage treatment from a broad cross section of people in the region.

Victoria’s independent TV was there to record. Here is the link if you want to watch individual presentations, http://www.youtube.com/user/VictoriaIndyTV#p/u.

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